Picture this: you’re sitting around a table in Seoul, the soju is flowing, someone raises a glass \u2014 and everyone looks at you expectantly. Do you know what to say? Knowing how to say “cheers” in Korean is one of those small but mighty phrases that can make a huge difference in how you connect with Korean speakers, whether you’re traveling, watching K-dramas, or making new friends.<\/p>\n
The good news is that Korean has a few different ways to say “cheers,” and each one fits a different situation. Once you understand when and how to use them, you’ll feel right at home at any Korean gathering.<\/p>\n
Korean is a language deeply shaped by social context and hierarchy. This means the word you choose for “cheers” depends on who you’re with \u2014 your best friend, your boss, or a mixed group at a formal dinner. Here’s a quick overview before we dig into each one:<\/p>\n
Let’s take a closer look at each expression so you know exactly how and when to use them.<\/p>\n
\uac74\ubc30 (geonbae)<\/strong> is the most common and versatile way to say “cheers” in Korean. If you only learn one word from this article, make it this one. You can use it confidently in almost any social setting \u2014 family dinners, work gatherings, celebrations with people of different ages or backgrounds.<\/p>\n Literally translated, \uac74\ubc30 means “empty glass” \u2014 combining the characters for “dry\/empty” and “glass.” That said, don’t worry: saying \uac74\ubc30 does not<\/em> mean you’re obligated to drain your drink in one go. Just like “cheers” in English, it simply signals that it’s time to clink glasses and take a sip.<\/p>\n The word is typically said on its own. If someone says \uac74\ubc30 to you, the natural response is simply to say \uac74\ubc30 right back and raise your glass. It’s refreshingly simple.<\/p>\n One fun linguistic note: speakers of Japanese or Chinese may notice that \uac74\ubc30 sounds familiar. That’s because it shares the same Chinese character roots as the Japanese kanpai<\/em> (\u4e7e\u676f) and the Mandarin g\u0101nb\u0113i<\/em> (\u5e72\u676f). All three expressions carry the same “empty the glass” meaning and have a common origin in written Chinese.<\/p>\n Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you’ve watched Korean variety shows or K-dramas, you’ve almost certainly heard \uc9e0 (jjan)<\/strong> already. It’s the sound effect of glasses clinking \u2014 and Koreans have turned that sound into a word. Think of it as the Korean equivalent of a casual “cheers!” among close friends.<\/p>\n \uc9e0 is warm, playful, and immediately signals a relaxed atmosphere. You’ll hear it at casual get-togethers, between friends of similar age, and in any informal drinking setting where the mood is light and friendly.<\/p>\n The key thing to remember is that \uc9e0 is informal<\/em>. Using it with a senior colleague, a superior at work, or someone you’ve just met in a formal context would come across as overly casual or even disrespectful. Save it for situations where the atmosphere is already comfortable and easy-going.<\/p>\n Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n \uc704\ud558\uc5ec (wihayeo)<\/strong> literally means “for the sake of” or simply “for.” Unlike \uac74\ubc30 and \uc9e0, this word isn’t something you’d casually drop into everyday conversation \u2014 it belongs firmly in the world of formal toasts, ceremonial occasions, and official speeches.<\/p>\n You’ll typically encounter \uc704\ud558\uc5ec at company dinners, award ceremonies, or significant milestone celebrations. It usually follows a short speech, and it’s often used in a call-and-response format: one person (often the most senior at the table) proposes a toast by saying “~\uc744 \uc704\ud558\uc5ec!” (“For ~!”), and everyone else echoes \uc704\ud558\uc5ec before drinking together.<\/p>\n For example, a company president might say “\uc6b0\ub9ac\uc758 \uc131\uacf5\uc744 \uc704\ud558\uc5ec!” (“For our success!”) and the whole room responds with a resounding \uc704\ud558\uc5ec! It’s a powerful, unifying moment \u2014 and knowing how to participate makes you feel genuinely part of the group.<\/p>\n Example sentences:<\/strong><\/p>\n No guide to Korean drinking expressions would be complete without mentioning \uc6d0\uc0f7 (wonsyat)<\/strong>. Borrowed directly from English, \uc6d0\uc0f7 means exactly what it sounds like \u2014 “one shot,” as in drinking your entire glass in a single go.<\/p>\n Unlike \uac74\ubc30, which simply signals a toast, \uc6d0\uc0f7 is a direct challenge or invitation to finish your drink all at once. You’ll hear it at lively gatherings where the mood is energetic and everyone’s feeling festive. It’s fun in the right setting, but it’s worth knowing what you’re agreeing to before you shout it back enthusiastically!<\/p>\n \uc6d0\uc0f7 is a great example of Konglish<\/em> \u2014 the fascinating blend of Korean and English that has become a natural part of modern Korean vocabulary. There are hundreds of Konglish words woven into everyday Korean speech, and \uc6d0\uc0f7 is one of the most recognizable.<\/p>\n Understanding the words is only half the picture. Korean drinking culture has its own set of social customs that are worth knowing if you want to navigate these moments gracefully.<\/p>\n One of the most important things to know is that in Korean culture, you typically don’t pour your own drink<\/strong>. It’s customary to pour for others at the table, especially for those who are older or more senior than you. Keeping an eye on other people’s glasses and topping them up is considered thoughtful and respectful.<\/p>\n When receiving a drink from someone older or more senior, it’s polite to hold your glass with both hands<\/strong>, or at least support your right hand with your left. This small gesture signals respect and appreciation \u2014 it’s one of those details that Korean speakers genuinely notice and appreciate from non-native learners.<\/p>\n In casual settings among friends of the same age, these formalities often relax considerably. People pour freely for each other, someone shouts \uc9e0, and the evening flows naturally. But in mixed-age or professional settings, a little awareness of these customs goes a long way.<\/p>\n If you speak British English, you might be used to saying “cheers” as a casual way to say “thanks.” It’s worth knowing that \uac74\ubc30 does not carry this meaning in Korean<\/strong>. Using \uac74\ubc30 to express gratitude would be confusing at best and comical at worst.<\/p>\n If you want to say “thank you” in Korean, the expressions you’re looking for are \uac10\uc0ac\ud569\ub2c8\ub2e4 (gamsahamnida)<\/strong> for a formal setting or \uace0\ub9c8\uc6cc (gomawo)<\/strong> among friends. These are entirely separate from the toasting vocabulary and shouldn’t be mixed up.<\/p>\n Still not sure which expression to reach for? Here’s a simple guide to help you decide:<\/p>\n When in doubt, \uac74\ubc30 will never let you down. It’s natural, respectful, and understood by everyone.<\/p>\n Throughout this article, you’ll have noticed the Korean writing alongside the romanized pronunciation. While romanization is a helpful stepping stone, learning to read Hangeul<\/strong> \u2014 the Korean alphabet \u2014 will genuinely transform your Korean learning journey.<\/p>\n Hangeul is a logically designed, phonetic alphabet that most learners can get comfortable with in just a few hours of focused study. Once you can read it, Korean words become far easier to pronounce accurately, and you’ll start recognizing vocabulary patterns much more quickly. It’s one of the best early investments you can make as a Korean learner.<\/p>\n Whether you’re planning a trip to Korea, bonding with Korean-speaking friends, or simply enjoying the language through dramas and music, knowing how to say “cheers” in Korean is a small phrase with a surprisingly big impact. Language is always at its best when it brings people together \u2014 and few moments do that quite like raising a glass and sharing a toast.<\/p>\n So the next time someone pours you a drink and the glasses come up, you’ll know exactly what to say. \uac74\ubc30!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Learn how to say cheers in Korean with \uac74\ubc30, \uc9e0, and \uc704\ud558\uc5ec. Discover when to use each expression and how Korean drinking culture shapes every toast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-korean"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2004","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2004"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2004\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2007,"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2004\/revisions\/2007"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2004"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\uc9e0 (Jjan) \u2014 The Casual Clink<\/h2>\n
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\uc704\ud558\uc5ec (Wihayeo) \u2014 The Formal Toast<\/h2>\n
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A Bonus: \uc6d0\uc0f7 (Wonsyat) \u2014 The Konglish Wild Card<\/h2>\n
How Do Koreans Actually Toast?<\/h2>\n
Important: What “Cheers” in Korean Does NOT Mean<\/h2>\n
Which “Cheers” Should You Use?<\/h2>\n
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A Note on Learning Korean Script<\/h2>\n
Raise Your Glass with Confidence<\/h2>\n